August 16, 2023 marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) being signed into law by President Biden. As outlined in a previous CMA Alert (March 2, 2023), the IRA law includes historic prescription drug provisions … [Read more...] about One-Year Anniversary of Medicare Prescription Drug Law: Beneficiaries Already Saving Money but Drug Industry Fights Progress
Archives for August 2023
CMS Request for Information Regarding Self-Administered Drugs – Center for Medicare Advocacy Calls for Reform
The Social Security Act permits Medicare Part B to pay for drugs and biologicals that are not usually self-administered by the patient and furnished as “incident to” a physician's service. As a result, drugs that are “usually self-administered” are … [Read more...] about CMS Request for Information Regarding Self-Administered Drugs – Center for Medicare Advocacy Calls for Reform
CMS Reimbursement Rules for Skilled Nursing Facilities Disappoint Residents’ Advocates
In final rules that provide the annual update to Medicare Part A reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increases Part A reimbursement by approximately $1.4 billion (4.0%), a higher … [Read more...] about CMS Reimbursement Rules for Skilled Nursing Facilities Disappoint Residents’ Advocates
Make Your Voices Heard! Please Respond to CMS Request for Information About the Importance of Home Health Aides
CMS has provided an important opportunity for beneficiaries, and their advocates, to convey experiences and concerns about the devastating lack of access to Medicare-covered home health aides, especially for individuals living with chronic and … [Read more...] about Make Your Voices Heard! Please Respond to CMS Request for Information About the Importance of Home Health Aides
Congressman Joe Courtney and Bipartisan Colleagues Reintroduce Observation Status Bill
Congressman Joe Courtney (D, CT) and a bipartisan group of colleagues reintroduce Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2023, H.R. 5138, a bill to ensure that patients qualify for post-hospital Medicare-covered care in a skilled nursing … [Read more...] about Congressman Joe Courtney and Bipartisan Colleagues Reintroduce Observation Status Bill
Two Cases Involving Centers Health Care, a New York State Nursing Home Chain
Nursing home owners and operators and their trade associations argue that they need more money to provide care to residents. Litigation against and by Centers Health Care, a New York State-based nursing home chain, shows a different story: how much … [Read more...] about Two Cases Involving Centers Health Care, a New York State Nursing Home Chain
Paycheck Protection Program: A Massive Windfall for Nursing Facilities?
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), to make loans to employers to keep workers employed during the pandemic … [Read more...] about Paycheck Protection Program: A Massive Windfall for Nursing Facilities?
Policymakers Must Address Medicare Advantage Abuses
As highlighted last week in our CMA Alert, on July 27 the Center for Medicare Advocacy joined Be A Hero, Members of Congress, beneficiaries, and other advocates, at a rally at the U.S Capitol to underscore the harm Medicare Advantage (MA) is … [Read more...] about Policymakers Must Address Medicare Advantage Abuses